Aretha Franklin Feat. Michael McDonald: Ever Changing Times

You can't go wrong with a song when you have Michael McDonald as your wingman. Blue-eyed soul lead singer of The Doobie Brothers and occasional backing vocals with the likes of Christopher Cross, Toto and Steely Dan, Michael is always a delight to hear and feel, specially if he's a part of a duet as evidenced along with Patti Labelle in "On My Own" or James Ingram in "Yah Mo B There". You add this gentleman next to legendary Aretha Franklin and the result is an elegant, refined and beautiful rendition of the senses with "Ever Changing Times". Shock twist: I've always thought their version was the original but in fact, it's a cover for "Baby Boom"'s main theme - but truth is...the duet is 100 times better, sound and music, voice quality and how Franklin & McDonald simply connect with each other.

The clip: a black-and-white video consisting in Franklin being the main star, McDonald comes in the background doing his bit ("I see the clock upon the wall but it don't bother me at all, it's the ever changing times"), and there's some minor background story focusing on a couple trying to figure out how to cope with things while being apart from each other, reflecting what the lyrics are all about with time always changing who we are and how our relations go through evolutions, split-up's, reunions and more. Well, for its style and non appeal to MTV generation the video is a minor classic for R&B fans and adult contemporary fans. Excellent cinematography, movements but the main appeal are the voices of Aretha and Michael brightening our hearts and enlightning our souls. It's passionate, reflective and pure magical. It hasn't been equaled. 8/10.